The summer transfers of 2016 saw the biggest outlay of money during any window of the Premier League era.
With almost £1.2 Billion changing hands over the last few months, it’s easy to forget there were also a large number of high-quality players that moved between clubs under the loan system.
We form a team of 11 star players who have been loaned in and out during this summer's transfer window.
Goalkeeper
#1 Joe Hart – Manchester City to Torino
The Englishman had a torrid European Championships, but despite this, he will always be remembered by Manchester City fans as a legend for bringing the Premier League title to the blue half of Manchester for the first time in their history.
A managerial change at the club saw Pep Guardiola being brought in and unfortunately for England’s number 1, he was surplus to the Spaniard’s plans. He was therefore moved out just before the end of the transfer window to Torino, but still retains a value of £14.5 Million.
In almost a decade of playing with Manchester City, Hart won the Premier League twice, the League Cup twice and one FA Cup.
Defenders
#2 Kenedy – Chelsea to Watford
Signed in the summer of 2015 from Fluminense, the Brazilian-born full-back played 20 games last season for the Blues. He has also played at Under-20’s level for his national side.
The 20-year-old sent out by new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to get game time and a season-long loan to Watford was arranged.
The Vicarage Road side are looking to establish themselves in the Premier League this season and manager Walter Mazzari clearly thinks Kenedy can assist in this. He is valued at £6.8m.
#3 Javier Manquillo – Atletico Madrid to Sunderland
The 22-year-old has moved to the Premier league once again, this time to Sunderland. The Spaniard’s time so far in England has been with Liverpool and after 18 appearances in 2014 had his loan spell cancelled by Brendan Rogers
The right-back’s chance, this time, comes with David Moyes and is keen to impress in order to secure a long-term move to the Black Cats. The youngster is confident going forward but suspect in defence.
#4 Calum Chambers - Arsenal to Middlesborough
The young English defender featured regularly as a substitute for Arsenal last season. He joined Arsene Wenger’s team in the summer of 2014 and made 59 appearances at full-back and central defence.
He has now joined Middlesbrough on a season-long loan on the last day of the transfer window in order to gain more first-team opportunities. The 21-year-old has been capped by the England senior team, but it appears his career has stalled a little under Wenger in the last 12 months.
#5 Elaquim Mangala – Manchester City to Valencia
Many Manchester City fans were hoping the most expensive defender in British football would turn out to be more of a success. However, after 2 disappointing seasons at the Etihad, the £42m Centre-back has moved to Valencia.
The 25-year-old defender, reportedly on £100,000 per week at City is on a season-long loan at the Spanish club. The Frenchman is quick and good on the ball but lacks concentration which led to many mistakes.
His value, since his record-breaking move has plummeted, however, he is still worth a reported £19.6M.
#6 Nabil Bentaleb – Tottenham to Schalke
Having come through the Spurs academy, Bentaleb played two seasons at White Hart Lane making 66 first team appearances and scoring a solitary goal. He has now joined Schalke on a season-long loan.
The 21 Year-Old will be keen to impress the Bundesliga club who made an offer to purchase the midfielder during the summer transfer window which was reported to be a £10 million bid that Dan Levy turned down.
#7 Jack Wilshere – Arsenal to Bournemouth
In what was perhaps the biggest loan transfer of the summer, Arsenal’s injury-prone midfielder took the surprise decision to move to Bournemouth for the 2016-17 Season. Eddie Howe and his management team convinced the 24-year-old down to the south coast of England and, provided he stays fit, believe he can make a real impact.
The Cherries will be hoping that with Wilshere in midfield they can look higher than the 16th place finish they achieved in last season’s campaign. They will be paying his entire £90,000 per week salary and so will look to get as many games as possible from their latest asset.
Currently valued at £19.6m, the midfielder’s main priority will be trying to remain injury free and getting as much game time as possible for his new club.
#8 Samir Nasri – Manchester City to Sevilla
Another Manchester City player in the list that doesn’t appear to be in Pep Guardiola’s plans.
The Frenchman, who has amassed 124 games, scored 18 goals and was also part of the 2012 Premier League winning team, has signed for Sevilla on a season-long loan.
The 29-year-old will hope for regular games in Andalusia with the possibility of a permanent move should performances demonstrate he is able to cut it in La Liga.
His age means that this could be his final big money move, so he will be keen to impress and live up to his current market valuation of £12.8m.
#9 Gokhan Tore – Besiktas to West Ham United
Turkish international Gokhan Tore has signed for West Ham Utd on a season-long loan. The midfielder has arrived from Besiktas, initially on a season-long loan, with the view of a permanent deal should both sides agree.
He helped his side win the Super Lig title last season with a number of eye-catching performances and will be keen to impress in the Premier League.
Tore was brought through the youth ranks at Chelsea – winning the Premier Reserve League - and so will be no stranger to English conditions. He has also been managed by Slaven Bilic during the manager’s time in Turkey.
Both these factors could help settle the 24-year-old into EPL and will hope to play the majority of games this season. He is currently valued at £12.8m.
Forwards
#10 Simone Zaza – Juventus to West Ham United
West Ham's second signing on the list is Italian International striker Simone Zaza. Like Tore, he has also joined on a season-long loan. The Hammers moved for the 25-year-old forward the weekend before deadline day and hope he will be able to play a big part in their 2016 EPL campaign.
It’s been revealed that Zaza was on his way to Napoli, before Juventus allegedly blocked the transfer, with them not keen to sell to a Serie A rival. All this means that the striker is now on loan with West Ham with view to making the loan move permanent.
#11 Wilfried Bony – Manchester City to Stoke City
Wilfried Bony, the fourth and final Man City player in the list, has made a season-long loan move to Stoke City. The Potters landed the 25-year-old on the last day of the summer transfer window.
Bony, who signed for City in January 2015, has scored 130 goals in 278 appearances in his career.
Though this record seems impressive, the Ivory coast striker struggled to settle in Manchester City’s first team, not least due to the form of Argentinian striker, Sergio Aguero.
The former Swansea City forward will be hoping for regular football and a return to goal scoring form with Stoke, who will be looking for a top half finish in this season’s EPL.
Formation
The players lend themselves to sit in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Bony as the main striker and Zaza sitting off him. 3 attacking midfielders compliment the strikers with Bentaleb providing the cover in the centre.
The full backs can then keep wide and attack as they both like to do. Chambers and Mangala make the center back partnership with Joe Hart in goal. The total value of the loanees first XI comes to a massive £140 million.
